Victoria and Albert Museum
The world’s greatest museum of art and design
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The Sheepshanks collection
'A Village Choir', oil on panel by Thomas Webster, Great Britain, 1847. Museum no. FA.222 Given by John Sheepshanks, 1857
'A Village Choir', oil on panel by Thomas Webster, Great Britain, 1847. Museum no. FA.222 Given by John Sheepshanks, 1857
This work illustrates Washington Irving's 'Christmas Day', from The Sketch Book (1820). His essay was a comical and sentimental account of an old-fashioned village choir and its musicians. The painting was probably Webster's most famous work and was much admired. A critic praised its 'truth and diversity of character'.
